ALAPPUZHA: The police have launched a probe into the death of two brothers hailing from Poochackal here under mysterious circumstances in Bengal. Mammachan Joseph, 58, of Panavally Palliveli Kunnelveli and his brother Kunjumon, 51, died at different hospitals after being admitted there following ‘health issues’.

The brothers were ex-servicemen. According to their relatives, the brothers left for Burdwan in Bengal on Thursday to buy gold. The Poochackal police have registered a missing person case based on a complaint filed by the kin of the dead.

“We have information that both had died, but the circumstances leading to their death remain unclear. Our team has left for Kolkata to investigate the complaint,” said an officer. Thankachan, the brother of the dead, said Kunjumon and Mammachan went to Kolkata as directed by a migrant worker.

“We received a call informing that both died in a hospital in Kolkata. A migrant worker, who was Mammachan’s tenant here, told my brothers that there is a treasure box containing gold worth crores of rupees in his village. My brothers travelled to his place two weeks ago with a goldsmith. On Thursday, they again went to Kolkata with Rs 12 lakh and six sovereigns of gold to buy the treasure,” he said. Sources said Mammachan and Kunjumon were hospitalised after feeling uneasiness. “Mammachan died at Sharanya Hospital in Burdwan. Kunjumon was taken to Apollo Hospital in Kolkata before his death. After completing the formalities, the bodies will be handed over to the relatives on Wednesday,” they said.